Chapter 18 #2
They could hear loud country music, and plenty of raised voices singing already, even though girls’ night had only just started. Stepping inside, Nina looked around the interior.
You never knew what Dee had planned for nights like this. Usually there was something phallic hanging from the ceiling, and tonight’s decor didn’t disappoint. A huge set of pink breasts floated about, tethered to something above them.
“I wonder where she gets this stuff?” Blue said, admiring them.
There was a bar, which was lined with women, pool tables, and a big-screen TV, which usually had a game playing on it, but not tonight.
They’d painted one wall emerald and another cherry. The ceiling was full of lights strung from one side to the other, and socks. Other towns had things like postcards, or photos of celebrities, but not Lyntacky. Their town had socks.
A huge Christmas tree had twinkling lights and beer coasters hanging all over it.
“Come on, let’s get a drink,” Blue said, tugging Nina with her.
“Hello, Nina. How are you, dear?”
“Good, thanks, Mrs. C.”
“I’m pleased you’re taking over Circle Left. You’ll do right by it.” The woman, who used to own the only home décor shop in town and had sold it to Zoe, hugged her close.
“Thank you.”
She was stopped twice more, while Blue had wandered off, clearly not willing to wait, before she reached the bar.
“I got you a pina colada,” Blue said.
“Do I want a pina colada?” Nina asked.
“Yes!” Zoe added from the seat next to her. “You remember my friend, Lil, don’t you, Nina? She’s in love with your brother, Blue.”
Nina instantly stomped down the stab of jealousy. She and Finch were not an item.
“I am not in love with him. I like his music, as I have told you many times, Zoe.” Lil rolled her eyes.
Lynx. The woman liked Lynx’s music, not Finch’s face—which, to be fair, though, was gorgeous.
Like Zoe, her friend had big city style. Lil had long blond curls, green eyes, and flawless pale skin. Her dress stopped mid-thigh and clung to her every curve.
“And I’m here because I enjoyed my last trip to Lyntacky so much that I decided I needed another vacation here,” Lil added.
“And you think Lynx is hot,” Zoe added to annoy her friend.
“My brother is barman tonight, Nina. So we’re annoying Finch by ordering cocktails,” Blue said.
Nina nudged Blue out of the way and moved closer. Looking down the bar, she saw Finch McAllister, who was dressed in jeans and a tight black T-shirt with the words “I’m the Sexy Elf” on the front. On his head was an elf hat.
Three other barmen were on, dressed the same. Bradford, the lab technician and general odd-jobs man, and Ryder Duke, who looked about as happy as Finch to be behind the bar, plus Kurt, the new guy.
Kurt flashed her a wide grin that showed off all his teeth, and she wished she felt one tenth of what she felt just looking at Finch.
“If I weren’t in love with Jay, I’d definitely start flirting with him,” Blue said. “Go get him, girl.” She nudged Nina in the side.
Ignoring the nudge, she said, “How the hell did they get Finch and Ryder behind the bar when your brother is so grumpy and unsociable these days?” she asked his sister.
“Apparently they both owed Red a favor.”
“Hell of a favor,” Nina said with her eyes on the hot guy who had given her really hot sex. “Will this music and the lighting be all right with his eyes and headaches?”
“The lighting is dim, so he’ll be okay with that, but the music could be a problem. Red told him he can leave if he needs to,” Blue said.
“Still—”
“He’s a big boy, Nina. Finch will say if he needs to get out of here.”
Finch turned then, and his eyes locked on her. He made his way down the bar.
“If you order a cocktail, there is every chance I might say fuck off,” he said with a hard look.
“I’ve already ordered her one. You remember, darling brother—two pina coladas,” Blue cooed from over Nina’s shoulder.
“Do you remember that thing you made me promise never to tell anyone, Blue Jay?” Finch said. “Think very carefully about annoying your big brother any more tonight.”
“There is nothing you can say to me now that would stop me ordering cocktails all night,” Blue said, sounding smug.
“Did you know it was Blue Jay who vomited in the school pool that summer it was really hot, and we couldn’t swim in it for a week while it was cleaned and drained, Nina?” Finch said calmly.
“That was you?” Nina spun to glare at Blue. “We had swimming sports that week, too, and my team was going to win the novelty relay event. We were a shoo-in.”
“You rat,” Blue said to her brother.
“I told you to stop, and you didn’t. Now, if you continue, I’ll put out the other thing we’re not allowed to talk about,” he said.
“I hate you,” Blue snarled.
“What are you hating Finch for now?” Birdie asked, having just appeared. She wore another sparkly headband that said Merry Christmas and a red dress with a Christmas tree on the front that had working lights.
“He told Nina it was me who puked in the pool that summer. That was a McAllister vault secret,” Blue snapped.
“McAllister vault secret?” Nina asked, intrigued. Not having siblings, she didn’t understand their inner workings. Yes, she had friends, but they hadn’t been there to share meals or bedtimes, and annoy her constantly. The things they did within their families intrigued her.
“If it goes into the vault, it stays there. We have plenty of dirt on each other. Take Finch, for example—”
“You don’t want to start this, Blue, because you’ll lose,” Finch said calmly as he picked up a towel and began to dry the tray of glasses Red put on the bar, like he’d been working here for weeks and not just a single night.
“Because I was the McAllister who rarely got caught doing things I shouldn’t, unlike you.
I was also the one who bailed you out of trouble many times, and I have an excellent memory, even after the accident. ”
“Start what?” Red asked. Unlike the other staff, his shirt said “Head Sexy Elf.”
“Finch opened the McAllister vault,” Birdie said.
Red whistled. “Brave call, man. I remember your dad telling me about that.”
“So, spill something on him, then,” Nina demanded.
Blue and Finch looked at each other.
“That will do. The vault is not being opened again tonight by either of you, and, Blue, you should know better than to wind Finch up,” Birdie said, jabbing a finger at her sister. “I’m going to dance with adults and leave you two juveniles to cool off.”
They all watched Birdie stomp to the dance floor and join the other Duke women.
Blue whistled. “She never uses that tone, but when she does, she means business.”
“I guess that means I’m making pina coladas,” Finch said.